Movie set and concert nursing

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 15, 2014

The concert venue managers I know do not utilize nurses. They utilize EMTs and sometimes paramedics depending on the state. Often hiring the local first aid squads to standby. It was a coveted gig for a family member who did volunteer EMS & fire near the meadowlands. They would volunteer their time and sit backstage or the vicinity but had to respond if needed. Nurses weren't needed at the concert as it's basic first aid and transport to ED if more than a band aid or ice pack is needed. The concert promoter contracted with local EMS and made a sizeable donation or reimbursed the municipality for stand by service.

There have been movies filmed in my area and my cousins. Local EMS was paid to standby for first aid or transport if more than basic care needed. If volunteer squad the entity made a donation to the squad if paid EMS a contract for payment was signed with the agency.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jul 16, 2014

I believe EMS usually provides on-scene medical standby. There would be little benefit for a nurse on the set. Without physician orders a nurse can't do much. What nursing care would you expect to be needed in that situation?

Deuceswild1 · Aug 8, 2014

I have been a Set Medic for 4 years, I have done movies, shows, concerts, sports, and a bunch of crazy random things (hot dog eating contests etc.) I have seen RNs utilized at events, but it is not a full time gig, one company out by me is Simmons Ambulance, they do the huge venues like coachella, the twist is that the company is owned by a ER Doc that is the medical director for the company so they get away with it, and they have a mobile pop up triage center, most of the RN stand by gigs are related with working on a ambulance CCT unit full time and once in a while you get a special gig where the insurance requires an RN

CriticalCareRN1 · Dec 26, 2014

I'm interested in doing something similar, but travel with the artists/performers. You may have to create a stellar resume to shop around to recording label executives, of which I plan to do. Michael Jackson had a travel MD. The sky is the limit!

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Mar 8, 2015

I work in EMS and we provide the coverage for our local arena. I have never heard of concert venues using nurses, this is generally an EMS role.

I am not sure how you would even make that work since you would need a medical director and medical control, as well as protocols etc. This activity is generally EMS based, not nursing based. As an RN we cannot provide medical care without an MD being involved!

In my opinion an arena with concerts etc is not appropriate for a nurse to be covering. Just as an example our arena holds 7,000 people. You are not there just to do minor stuff, you need to remember that MCIs can happen and as a nurse you will not have the ability to work as command at such a large event and know what resources you have available as far as ambulances, fire, and police. You would need to be familiar with triage procedures etc, which is not commonly familiar to the average nurse outside of the ER. Our triage is also very different from hospital triage.

When we have concert details we see on average 15-40 patients in a three to four hour period, with transports of 10+ patients! We treat every concert (well ok, at least those geared to the younger crowd) as an MCI, since in essence they usually become one. There are generally two paramedics and about 15 EMTS per a concert, plus we set up a dispatch center in order to keep the flow of ambulances coming!

This isn't as simple as you may think it is! I would not even attempt this!

Annie

Madriver · Apr 9, 2015

I work as a set medic on commercials and films. I have a BFA in motion picture production and a MSN. Much of the work is first aid and workers comp paperwork. The work is sporadic. There is also a huge responsibility that most don't consider. People have been killed on movie sets, because producers and directors are trying to make their day. It is your responsibility to shut down production if you see something dangerous (grips rigging in an approaching lightning storm). This does not endear you to production management. If you stop production 60 crew members may go into overtime and penalty payments. If you don't and someone gets killed or injured you will lose your license and could go to jail for negligence.

I started as an intern through my college program. On that first set you have to make an impression- hard worker, quiet, fast, not on your cell phone. Being quiet as a crew member is really important. Your cell phone ringing or dropping something, or scooting your chair can ruin a perfect performance. I did 4 films for free as an intern before I got my first paying job. That is about 1200 hours. If you want your foot in the door, I would go to the closest film school and offer to be set medic for free on student projects. Build your resume. Often times even student projects have some professionals for certain positions and your name gets on people lists. After you have some film experience you can join the union. Larger films have to hire union first.

Although it seems exciting it isn't. You have to be there until the last truck door shuts, which means a 12 hour day for most crew is 16 hour day for you. People resent that you are getting paid for sitting there doing nothing but knitting or reading books, while they are sweating their asses off.

Pay rates are dependent on the film budget and you probably will never get onto the big films. On the little ones expect $ 22/hour or less. Union rates are time and a half after eight hours.

Another tip. You will have to keep things confidential. If you start taking photos or posting things about the production you will never work again and may get sued.